Welcome To The Hyunam-dong Bookshop : Read this book when you need comfort and a hug

Read this : Welcome To The Hyunam-dong Bookshop!

Join us on a journey to a bookshop where comfort is always in stock. Learn how this unique space combines warmth and literature to create an unparalleled reading experience for all lovers of books.

Read this book when you need comfort and a hug 

Why Do We Read?

For many, reading serves as a temporary escape from reality. For others, it’s an endless pursuit of knowledge, whether to improve themselves or to better understand the world. For South Korean author Hwang Bo-reum, 43, reading is a form of comfort, like a warm, reassuring hug or an intimate heart-to-heart with loved ones.

The Healing Power of Books

Hwang’s heartfelt debut novel, Welcome To The Hyunam-dong Bookshop, embodies this philosophy. During a challenging period in her life, a bookstore became her sanctuary. “Before I became an author, I worked near Gangnam station in Seoul. At lunchtime, I would take a quick lunch and then spend 30 to 40 minutes browsing and reading books at a nearby bookstore. I went there every day,” Hwang shared during an interview at Tsutaya Books Bukit Jalil, one of the stops on her recent Malaysia tour. “At that time, I was having a difficult time at work, so the bookstore was a space where I could find myself again,” she added.

The Novel and Its Themes

Welcome To The Hyunam-dong Bookshop explores themes of healing, safe spaces, and found family. It reminds readers that in a world that can be overwhelming and exhausting, it’s okay to take a rest and start over. Hwang named the fictional neighborhood where the bookshop is set using the word “hyu,” meaning “rest.”

The novel’s main character, Yeongju, leaves her old life and opens the Hyunam-dong Bookshop after struggling with burnout. As she throws herself into establishing the bookshop within the community, an engaging cast of characters emerges: Minjun, the bookshop’s barista, jaded from his hunt for a “proper” job; Jungsuh, a mysterious character who knits quietly in the bookshop every day; and Mincheol, a disinterested high schooler seeking his spark for life.

Hwang’s Personal Journey and Readers’ Responses

Much like Yeongju, Hwang’s shift from being a software engineer to a writer was a personal journey of self-discovery. Published in 2022, over 200,000 copies of Welcome To The Hyunam-dong Bookshop have been sold in South Korea, and it has been adapted into an audio play. The English translation was released by Bloomsbury in 2023. In Malaysia, the book has been translated into Bahasa Malaysia as Selamat Datang Ke Kedai Buku Hyunam-Dong and released by K-Lit Plus, a Karangkraf imprint.

“I have received many touching reviews from readers. One Korean mother told me that her son, who was suffering from lethargy, read my book and asked her to read it as well. After reading it, he began to wake up and fold his blanket on his own. It might seem like a small change, but for her, it meant a lot,” Hwang shared.

Independent Bookshops and Community Impact

According to Hwang, most South Korean readers frequent large chain bookstores or buy books online. “Independent bookshops have to work very hard to attract customers. I’ve heard that after reading my book, more people have been curious to explore indie bookshops near them. They attend book talks or buy books, and that’s really encouraging,” she said.

Imaginary Scenarios and Reading Habits

Though Hwang admits she is not as sociable as Yeongju and has no plans to open her own bookshop, she has imagined an ideal scenario. “If I were rich, I’d buy a building and open a café on the first floor, a bookstore on the second floor, and an event space on the third floor. Like Yeongju, I would want to treat my staff well and give good salaries. I’d also provide freebies to customers. I probably won’t make much money, but in this scenario, I already have a lot of money, so it’s okay,” she said jokingly.

When asked about a potential adaptation of her book, she shared some casting preferences: “For Minjun, I thought of Nam Joohyuk, and for Seungwoo, Kim Seonho. For Jungsuh, someone like Jun Jongseo.”

Making Time for Reading

As an avid reader, Hwang tends to read multiple books concurrently. “In my essay collection, I Read Every Day, I talk about keeping different books in various corners of my house and reading in small pockets of time. For example, I read a book while drying my hair, and another before going to sleep. I also can’t read without a pencil because I need to annotate,” she revealed.

Hwang enjoys reading works from international authors and recently appreciated Ian McEwan’s novels and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. She also emphasizes balancing her reading with Korean literature, recommending Love In The Big City by Sang Young Park, which was longlisted for the 2022 International Booker Prize.

Welcome To The Hyunam-dong Bookshop is available in all good bookstores.